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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: leaves · plane · board · saw · object · mine · lash · bay

  1. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  4. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. mine — for digging
  4. mine — belonging to me
  5. saw — the tool
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. object — a thing
  11. saw — the tool
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. object — an aim
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. board — to get on
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. object — to protest
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. plane — a tool

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com